Workman&#39;s-card protector.



H. H. NEWSOM.

W-ORKMANS CARD PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED IIAY 26. IsIe.

1,291,608. Patented Jan.14,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

a "our: "nu om Mam-umn.. nasnmcmn. u. c.

H. H. NEWsoM.

WORKMANS CARD PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. |916.

Patented J an. 14, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fllllL/IIIIIAIIIIIII nu l uns rnsu au. nm'muma. usmncmn. n c.

UM un sTA'rEs ar if fr me.

HORACE H. NEWSOM, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE- ASSIGNMENTS, TO

THE STANDARD PARTS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WORKIVIANS-CARD PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 14:, 1919.

Application filed May 26, 1916. Serial No. 100,166.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HORACE H. NnwsoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Workmens- Card Protectors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a device or apparatus for containing and dealing, in a predetermined order, workmens time cards, the device protecting the cards against disarrangement or handling, and at the same time revealing a portion of each card, so that the workman may make appropriate notations thereon vas to the progress of the work. The apparatus may further serve to count the cards or announce the deliverance of each card, thereby indicating that the piece of work represented by such card is completed.

Difficulty has been experienced in large manufacturing concerns, where it is necessar-y to apportion the work among the employees by supplying each with a batch of cards representing the pieces of work delegated to him, by the workman arranging the cards to suit his own convenience and pleasure, attending to the more easily perormed tasks first, and allowing the more diflicult pieces of work to accumulate, thus throwing out of order the system or program arranged by the foreman or other party primarily responsible forthe work.

It is the fundamental obj ect of this invention, therefore, to provide a comparatively simple device or apparatus for containing a batch of time cards, wherein they may be placed in a predetermined order and dealt, by means of conveniently operated mechanism, through the device (in the present embodiment, from a storage receptacle to a receiving receptacle), a portion of .each ca rd being revealed through an opening while passing through the device, so that the workman may record thereon certain facts pertaining to the piece of work represented by the respective cards.

A further object contemplated by'my 1nvention is the provision of a suitable counter or annunciator, preferably electrically connected with the device or apparatus, whereby the issuance of each card is recorded at a place where it may be observed by the party in charge.

Further objects will become apparent as this description proceeds, among them being the provision of novel mechanism for positively and accurately feeding the cards; the provision of means for holding the cards against material backward movement; and the provision of an adjustment for adapting the machine to cards of varying thicknesses.

I have illustrated in hthe accompanying drawings an embodiment of my invention, and while I will proceed to describe the same in detail, I wish to be understood as not limiting myself to the structural details thereof further than is required by the terms of the annexed claims, and is rendered necessary by the state of the prior art.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the device of my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of a part of the feeding mechanism, the same being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4i; Fig. 4L is a transn verse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a similar view, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and looking inthe direction of Fig. 4, `the present figure including a diagrammatic representation of a counter and an electric circuit through which the same is operatively connected to the device; and Fig. 6 shows, in perspective, a workmans time card that may be used in connection with my device.

The embodiment of my invention shown herein is intended to be incorporated in a table or suitable cabinet. I4 or the purpose of this description, it will be assumed that the device is built into a table, the top being represented at 1, and provided with an opening 2, of appropriate shape, for the accommodation of the device.

The device comprises a substantially rectangular frame 5, having an offset 6 at one side, for a part of the feeding mechanism, as will be hereinafter described, and a storage receptacle 7 in the form of a rectangular casing, is shown as formed integral with and rising from one end of the frame '5. A suitable cover 8 closes the top of the storage receptacle, the cover having a hinge connection at 9 with one end of the receptacle, and adapted to be secured in closed position, to the opposite end of the recep-l tacle, by a suitable lock shown in a general way at 10. A ledge 12 extends along each side and across the end of the frame 5, beyond the receptacle 7, and supports two glass panels 13 and 14 that have their adjacent edges separated to leave a space therebetween through which access may be had to a portion of a card, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The glass panels are held in their respective positions and against the fiange 12 by a suitable binder 15 that corresponds substantially in shape to that portion of the frarne 5 beyond the receptacle 7, the binder comprising a lip to which the numeral 15 is applied and which overhangs the edges of t e glass panels 13 and 14, and is connected through a body portion 16, to a horizontal flange 17 that is clamped between a correspending flange 18 of the frame 5, and the horizontal wall of a rabbeted portion .of the table top which surrounds the opening 2. Screws 19 serve to hold the frame 5 and the binder 15 within the opening of the table top. Between the separated edges of the glass panels 13 and 14, the binder 15 is drawn downward to substantially the plane of the underneath surfaces of the glass, as shown at 20, thus retaining the glass panels against displacement in a direction toward each other. The space thus provided will be referred to hereinafter as the opening, or writing opening, 21. n

The screws 19, which connect the end of the frame 5 adjacent the storage receptacle 7 to the table top, also serve to support the plate 22, having spaced bosses through which screws 23 are threaded, the screws being provided with knurled heads, and with lniurled lock nuts 24. A similar screw 25, having a lock nut 26 is supported within the boss of a plate 28 which extends across the frame 5 beneath the opening 21, the ends of the plate 28 being clamped to the frame by the opposed screws 19. The upper ends of the screws 23 and 25 are swivcled within a card-supporting plate 30 which preferably extends entirely across the bottom of the storage receptacle 7 and forward thereof a distance beyond the writing opening 21, where its end is turned downward to discharge the cards into a receiving receptacle 32. For convenience of description, the right hand end of the device, as viewed in Fig. 2, will be considered the front. 'Ifo deiiect the free ends of the cards downward as they are fed beyond the supporting plate, I provide a web 33, having a forwardlyv and downwardly inclined surface, and located within the angle between the front 'end of the fra-me 5 and the adja centportion of the glass panel 14.

The cards are represented at C, and a hatch of such cards is shown as contained within the storage receptacle, and are held firmly; against 'the supporting plate 30, by a weight 35. The supporting plate may be adjusted vertically, by means of the screws 23 and 25, to space it from the lower edge of the front wall of the storage receptacle 7 a distance enough greater than the thickn ness of a card (but no more) to permit the free passage of a card through the space between the plate and said wall of the receptacle. The screws 23 and 25 thus provide means for conveniently adjusting the device to adapt it to cards of varying thicknesses, the lock nuts 24 and 26 serving to maintain the proper adjustment.

Substantially central of the storage receptacle 7 and also between its forward end and the writing opening 21, the card supporting plate 30 is provided withthe respective openings 36 and 37, through which feed rollers 38 and 39, respectively, are adapted to be projected for engagement with the underneath surfaces of the cards as they pass across the supporting plate. The rollers are fixed to the respective shafts 40` and 41, and these shafts have their ends guided in notches in the sides of the frame 5 (see Figs. 3 and 4) and lie, as it were, upon springs 42, which are carried by bosses 43, depending from the supporting plate 30, and located, one on each side of the longitudinal center of the plate. Where the shafts 40 and 41 extend into the odset 6 of the frame 5, they are provided each with a gear 45, that is mounted loosely upon the shaft and having an enlarged hub 46 that is provided with pockets 48, the outer walls of which are eccentric with respect to the shaft, and which contain balls 49 (or the equivalents thereof). This constitutes a ball clutch connection of a well known type, between each of the gears 45 and its respective shaft. A rack carrying plate 50 occupies theoifset 6. and is slotted to accomf modate the shafts 40 and 41, and above each shaft a rack 51 is attached to the plate 50 and coperates with the adjacent gear 45. An extension 52 of the 'plate 50 rises through the slot 53, in the frame 5, and is provided with a suitable finger hold 52a, whereby the plate may be drawn toward the front of the machine, against the tension of a spring 54, which has one of its ends anchored to the rear end of the offset 6 of the frame 5, and its opposite end attached to the adjacent end of the plate. Thus it will be seen that upon the forward movement of the plate 50, the gears 45, and, through the ball clutches above described, the shafts 40 and 41, with their respective rollers 38 and 39, will be rotated in a direction to feed the cards toward the front of the machine. Due to the ratchet connection between the gears and the shafts, the plate 50 may be drawn forward as many times as is necessary, and to any extent required to properly locate the card beneath the writing opening 21 and then, being released, will return to normal position without affecting the cards. It will also be observed from the nature of the ball ratchets, that the cards cannot be pushed backward, for the gears are held against backward rotation by the racks, and the balls of the clutches act to hold the shafts, and consequently the feed rollers, against backward rotation with respect to the gears.

To insure positive action of the rollers 38 and 39 upon the cards, the surfaces of the rollers may be roughened by nurling them, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, or an equivalent of such may be employed, as the well known expedient of covering the rollers with rubber or the like. A rail 58 that is L- shaped in cross section, has its horizontal flange secured to the underneath surface of the frame 5 by means of screws 59, and serves as a support and guide for the plate 50.

The receiving receptacle 32 has one or more lugs 60 riveted to its rear wall, and these lugs interlock with ears' 61 that are connected to the underneath surface of the table top. The forward end of the receptacle is provided with a lock 62, which cooperates with a keeper 63 that is secured, by screws 64, to the table top, adjacent its front edge.

As I have already stated, I propose, in certain embodiments of my invention, to incorporate a counter or an annunciator for recording or indicating the number of cards which pass through the device. My present intention is to electrically actuate such counter or annunciator, and to control the actuating circuit by a pair of contacts, the engaging and disengaging of which are accomplished by the cards.

An arrangement for attaining the foregoing end is shown in Fig. 5, wherein it will be observed that a sleeve 65 of insulating materia l eXtends vertically through the left hand side of the card-supporting plate 30.A

A metallic plunger 66 occupies the upper end of the sleeve 65, and is pressed upward by a spring 67 which is interposed between the bottom 0f the plunger and a screw 68 that is threaded into the lower end of the sleeve 65 and serves, besides, as a binding post for the attachment of an electric conductor 69. Normally, the plunger 66 is forced upward into engagement with a contact member 7 O that is carried by the binder 15. The binder and frame 5 of the device are grounded, so to speak, through the wire 71, such wire leading to a battery 72. From the opposite side of the battery a wire 73 leads to the electro-magnet 74 which actuates a counter 7 5, all of which may be in accordance with common practice, the opposite side of the electro-magnet 74 being connected to the previously mentioned con ductor 69.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, so

. will be understood that the cards follow each other in close succession, with the ends of the cards practically abutting, and in order to provide spaces within the continuous suc* cession of cards through which the contact elements may meet, the upper left hand corner of each card is cut off diagonally, as clearly indicated in Fig. G. This is found to be the simplest way of providing open spaces through which the contact members may engage, although it is obvious that the sides of the cards might be notched, their lower corners cut off, or the body portions of the cards punched for the accomplishment of the same end.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is l. In' apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having a transparent covering that is provided with a writing opening, a container rising from one end of the frame and in which the cards may be placed in a given order, a stop against which the forward end of the cards bear, a supporting plate for the cards which is adjustable toward and from said stop, there being sufficient space between the supporting plate and stop to permit egress of a card, said supporting plate having an aperture, a feed roller projecting through said aperture and engaging the underneath surface of the card which bears upon the aforesaid plate, means for yieldingly sup-` porting the roller in contact with the card, mechanism for rotating the roller in a direction to feed the card from the container through the aforesaid frame, and a re` ceiver into which the cards may be discharged as they are fed from the aforesaid container and through the frame.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having a writing opening, a container rising from the frame and in which the cards may be placed, a supporting plate for the cards, there being sufiicient space between the supporting plate and container to permit egress of a card, said supporting plate having an aperture, a card feeding device projecting through said aperture and engaging the underneath surface of the card which bears upon the aforesaid plate, mechanism for actuating said device to feed the card from the container through the aforesaid frame, and a receiver into which the cards may be discharged as they are fed from the aforesaid container and through the frame.

3. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a frame, a cover therefor that is provided with a writing opening, a container rising from one end of the frame, a closure for said container, a lock for said closure, a supporting plate extending be- A neath said container and the cover of the aforesaid frame, an abutment for the forward ends of cards within the container and under which the lowermost card is adapted to be fed into the frame, means for adjusting the aforesaid supporting plate toward and from the aforesaid abutment, there being suflicient space at all times between the supporting plate and abutment to permit the egress of a card, the supporting plate having apertures, and feeding mechanism yieldingly projected through the aforesaid apertures for engagement with the cards upon the supporting plate thereby to feed said cards from the container through the aforesaid frame, a receiver for the cards which is supported beneath the aforesaid frame, and a means for locking said receiver closed.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having a cover that is provided with a Writing opening, a container rising from one end of the frame, a supporting plate beneath-the container and the cover, there being sufficient space between the supporting plate and container to permit the egress of a card, said plate having openings, rollers located beneath the plate and projecting through said openings, shafts whereon said rollers are secured, means yieldingly supporting the shafts, gears mounted upon the corresponding ends of the shafts, a ratchet connection between each gear and its respective shaft, a rack carrying plate slidably supported within one side of the frame and having an operating handle extending without the frame, and racks carried by the plate for coperation with the aforesaid gears.

5. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having a cover that is provided with a writing opening, a supporting plate located beneath the cover and spaced substantially the thickness of a card therefrom, said plate having an opening, spring arms secured to the underneath side of the plate, a shaft supported by said arms, a roller secured to the shaft and projecting through the aforesaid opening of the plate, and means for rotating said shaft.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having a cover that is provided with a writing opening, a supporting plate located beneath the cover and spaced substantially the thickness of a card therefrom, said' plate having an opening, spring arms secured to the underneath side of the plate, a shaft supported by 'said arms, a roller secured to the shaft and projecting through the aforesaid opening of the plate, a driving member rotatable freely upon the shaft, and ratchet connections between said member and the shaft.

7. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having a cover that is provided with a writing opening, a supporting plate located beneath the cover and spaced substantially the thickness of a card therefrom, said plate having an opening, a roller projecting through said opening, a shaft to which said roller is secured, means for yieldingly supporting said shaft, a gear' mounted upon the shaft, a ratchet connection between said gear and the shaft, a rack slidably supported within the frame for coperation with the aforesaid gear, and means 'extending without said frame for reciprocating said rack.

8. In apparatus of the character set forth,

the combination of a frame having a cover that is provided with a writingpopening, a supporting plate located beneath thel cover and spaced substantially the thickness of a card therefrom, said plate having openings that are spaced from each other, aroller pro- `iecting through each opening, a shaft to which said roller is secured, a pair of resilient arms for supporting the opposite ends of each shaft, gears supported upon the correspending ends of the shafts, a ratchet connection between each gear and its respective shaft, a rack carrying plate vslidably supported within the frame and having an operating handle extending without said frame, and a rack carried by said plate for coperation with each of the aforesaid gears.` In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HORACE H. NEWSOM. Witnesses:

BRENNAN B. VVEsT, M. W. KEMPTHORNE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing theommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

